driver ed

LESSON 1 — GDL & SAFE DRIVING

First 6 months — Must drive supervised at all times; sponsor must certify 50 hours of driving, including 10 nighttime hours.

Second 6 months — Can drive unsupervised from 6 AM–10 PM; 10 PM–6 AM requires supervision or qualifying trips to/from work, school, or church.

First 12 months passengers — No passengers except the adult supervisor and one other passenger, with an exception for immediate family.

Adult supervisor — Parent/guardian OR licensed driver age 25+ with a Class D license for at least 5 years.

Seat belts — All occupants must wear seat belts; children must use the proper child restraint.

Cell phones — No cell phone, texting, or similar electronic device use while driving.

Safe System Approach — Safer people, safer vehicles, safer speeds, safer roads.

Teen driver risk factors — Inexperience, passengers, distractions, speed, impaired driving, night driving, drowsy driving, and not wearing seat belts.

LESSON 2 — SIGNS

Central vision — Used for detail, reading, and targeting.

Peripheral vision — Detects movement, shapes, and contrast to the sides.

Fringe vision — Helps with reference points, depth, position, and mirror changes.

SIPDE — Search, Identify, Predict, Decide, Execute.

Smith System — Aim high, make sure others see you, keep your eyes moving, get the big picture, leave yourself an out.

HTS — Highway Transportation System: drivers, vehicles, and roadways.

Regulatory signs — Tell you laws and rules; usually white, red, and black.

Warning signs — Warn of hazards; usually yellow with black symbols and usually diamond-shaped.

Construction/work-zone signs — Warn about construction, maintenance, or utility work.

Guide/information signs — Give directions/information; usually green with white letters.

Pedestrian Crossing — Warning sign for pedestrians crossing.

Stop Sign — Requires you to stop.

No Parking — Parking is prohibited.

Divided Highway — Warns of divided roadway/keep right.

Do Not Enter — Do not enter the roadway.

Roundabout — Warns of a roundabout ahead.

Slippery Roadway — Warns that the road may be slippery.

School Crossing — Warns of a school crossing.

Bike Lane — Lane designated for bicycles.

One Way Street — Traffic travels in one direction.

LESSON 3 — SIGNALS & PAVEMENT MARKINGS

Red light — STOP.

Green light — Go, but proceed with caution.

Green light turning left — Yield to oncoming traffic.

Yellow light — Prepare to stop.

Traffic arrows — Apply only to the direction indicated.

Flashing yellow — Caution.

Flashing red — Treat like a stop sign.

Signal is out — Stop and proceed safely.

Purpose of pavement markings — Designate lanes, direct traffic, warn of hazards, and show when passing is permitted.

White lines — Separate traffic traveling in the same direction.

Solid white line — Separates lanes traveling in the same direction.

Broken/dashed white line — Separates lanes traveling in the same direction and may allow lane changes.

Yellow lines — Separate traffic traveling in opposite directions.

Solid yellow line — Do not pass or cross; used where passing is unsafe.

Crosswalk — Area where pedestrians cross; search for pedestrians and yield when required.

LESSON 4 — RULES OF THE ROAD

Yield — Slow or stop to allow another vehicle or pedestrian to go before you.

Yielding decision process — See the situation, identify the rule, predict what other drivers will do, then execute your decision.

Merging traffic — Must yield to traffic already on the road being entered.

Shared left-turn lane — Used only to turn left off the road or wait to turn left into traffic.

Shared left-turn lane rule — Do not travel down the lane.

U-turn restriction — Cannot make a U-turn near a crest if approaching vehicles cannot see you for at least 500 feet.

U-turn restriction — Cannot make a U-turn if it would impede traffic.

LESSON 5 — RULES OF THE ROAD PART 2

Emergency vehicle — Pull to the right/curb and stop without blocking an intersection.

Move Over Law — Change lanes away from an emergency roadside vehicle when possible; if unable, slow down and proceed with caution.

Move Over Law applies to — Emergency vehicles, tow trucks, DOT vehicles, public utility vehicles, and vehicles with hazard lights.

School bus yellow lights — Prepare to stop.

School bus red lights/stop arm — STOP and remain stopped until the red lights stop and the stop arm retracts.

School bus exception — On the opposite side of a highway with 4 or more lanes, proceed slowly.

Pedestrian right of way — Yield to pedestrians in marked or unmarked crosswalks and when their signal gives them the right of way.

Blind pedestrian — Yield when a blind pedestrian is crossing with a white cane or guide dog.

Bicyclist passing distance — Give bicyclists at least 3 feet when passing.

Narrow lane and bicyclist — Change lanes to pass if the lane is too narrow to safely share, even with a double yellow line.

Funeral procession — Do not drive between, obstruct, hinder, or interfere with the procession.

Basic Speed Law — Do not drive faster than is reasonable for existing conditions.

Speed limit — Maximum allowed speed under the best conditions.

School zone speed — 20 MPH unless otherwise posted.

Business district speed — 25 MPH unless otherwise posted.

Residential zone speed — 25 MPH unless otherwise posted.

Two-lane road speed — 50 MPH unless otherwise posted.

Divided/4+ lane/controlled-access road speed — 55 MPH unless otherwise posted.

65 MPH roads — I-95, I-495, Highway 1, and Highway 301.

Stopping distance — Perception distance + reaction time + braking distance.

Perception distance — Time it takes the driver to realize they need to brake.

Reaction time — Time it takes to move from the gas pedal to the brake after realizing the need to brake.

Braking distance — Distance/time needed for the vehicle to stop after the brakes are applied.

Things that increase stopping distance — Distractions, poor road surfaces, bad weather, bad brakes, worn tires, impairment, and speed.